Processing Applications Submitted with the United States Passport Card

Processing Applications Submitted with the United States Passport Card

Issue

This Operational Bulletin (OB) contains instructions for officers. It directs them in the manner in which they would need to process applications related to:

Temporary resident status

Permanent resident status or,

Citizenship

These instructions pertain to applications submitted along with the United States (United States) passport card.

Background

The United States of America began issuing the United States passport card in 2008. They did so to assist with the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Individuals possessing this United States passport card can use it for entering the United States from countries such as:

Canada

Mexico

The Caribbean and,

Bermuda

It is worth noting that individuals can only use the United States passport card for entering the United States at:

Land borders and,

Sea ports of entry

However, they cannot use the United States passport card for entering the United States via international air travel.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada stopped issuing a counterfoil to certain applicants. This typically applied to applicants approved for permanent residence from visa exempt countries. They implemented this step with effect from December 01, 2011.

The Instructions

The Instructions for Applications for Temporary Resident Status

The authorities typically grant United States citizens an exemption from the visa requirement for temporary resident status

Therefore, officers do not need to affix a visa counterfoil in these cases

However, officers might accept the United States passport card for processing purposes

In this scenario, officers would need to use the passport card number and expiry date in the processing system

These instructions mentioned above however, do not preclude officers from requesting United States citizens for their United States passport book

They would typically do this if they require further information such as the individual’s travel history etc.

They might also request for the United States passport book for confirming the identification of the individual

Usually, officers would request for the United States passport book to finalise the determination on an application

The Instructions for Applications for Permanent Resident Status

In the past, officers typically required a valid passport or a travel document book for processing permanent resident cases

This was because a vast majority of the cases of successful applicants had a permanent resident visa counterfoil affixed to their passport books

However, officers no longer require to affix a visa counterfoil in these cases

This is because:

The United States of America has introduced the United States passport card and.

The authorities have eliminated the use of counterfoils for approved permanent resident applicants from visa exempt countries, such as the United States of America etc.

Therefore, officers might accept the United States passport card for processing purposes

In this scenario, officers would need to use the passport card number and expiry date in the processing system

United States officials have confirmed that they subject the passport card to the same verification and entitlement procedures as the United States passport book

These instructions mentioned above however, do not preclude officers from requesting United States citizens for their United States passport book

They would typically do this if they require further information such as the individual’s travel history etc.

They might also request for the United States passport book for confirming the identification of the individual

Usually, officers would request for the United States passport book to finalise the determination on an application

The Instructions for Applications for a Permanent Resident Card (PRC) and a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad)

Certain individuals typically need to go through two processes, such as:

The Permanent Resident Card (PRC) application process and,

The Travel document (Permanent residents abroad)

Both processes review whether the applicant continues to meet:

The requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and,

The regulations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)

They also review whether the applicant continues to meet all the prescribed residence requirements too

In this scenario, applicants would need to submit copies of the following documents:

Their passports and,

Their travel documents

In particular, these applicants would need to submit all the pages of the two documents listed above

This is an important aspect of the application process as it enables the officers to go through the applicant’s travel history

By examining the applicant’s travel history, the officers can assess the applicant’s compliance with the prescribed residency obligations

Applicants would however, need to note that the United States passport card does not contain any details of their travel history

Therefore, officers would need to continue requesting the applicants for a United States passport book

The only exception to this would be cases where the officers are completely satisfied that the applicant continues to meet the prescribed residency requirements

The Instructions for Applications for a Grant of Citizenship

The local offices typically conduct a few checks during the citizenship application process

They conduct these checks to ensure that the applicant meets:

The requirements of the Citizenship Act and,

The regulations of the Citizenship Act

They also review whether the applicant continues to meet all the prescribed residence requirements too

For these reasons, applicants would need to submit all passports and travel documents to officers

In particular, applicants would need to submit these documents if they are relevant to the four-year period that precedes their citizenship applications

Applicants would however, need to note that the United States passport card does not contain any details of their travel history

Therefore, officers would need to refer to the United States passport card only for identification purposes

Officers would need to stop accepting United States passport cards submitted in support of citizenship applications

In addition, officers would need to request United States citizens to provide their United States passport books when processing their citizenship applications